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Ferguson’s call for fans’ restraint falls on deaf ears

By Oliver Kay

February 28 2004, 12:00am, The Times

IT IS not only on football matters that Sir Alex Ferguson is finding his judgment questioned and his authority challenged. Just as his most rudimentary instructions have been ignored by the Manchester United defence of late, so a plea to supporters has fallen on deaf ears, with even a series of telephone calls failing to persuade them to drop their planned protest against John Magnier at the Cheltenham Festival on March 18.

Ferguson had hoped that, by telephoning the organisers of a planned demonstration against the racehorse owner, he would be able to placate his board by defusing at least some of the tension that has escalated at Old Trafford in recent months. The United manager told the supporters that the feud — over stud rights…